25 



The capture of Gigas brings the list of Vancouver butterflies to a total of 56 species. 

 Next year if all. is well, I shall make an effort to procure eggs so as to observe Gigas in 

 its earlier stages. Caterpillars of all this genus are grass feeders, and should be full fed 

 in ordinary seasons towards the latter end of May. 



Prof. Macoun, who had accompanied Mr. Taylor, described the manner of flight of 

 this butterfly (Chionobas Gigas), which was swift and ceaseless, as was the case with the 

 specimens of C. Macounii taken at Nepigon ; all the specimens taken, it may be added, 

 of both these species, were males. 



Mr. Fletcher exhibited three specimens of the rare Papilio Nitra, two taken by 

 Prof. Macoun in the Rocky Mountains, the other by Mr. N. H. Cowdry at Regina, 

 NW. T. ; also some interesting species and varieties of Oolias, regarding which there 

 was discussion by several of the members. 



Attention was then called to the valuable paper by Mr. H. H. Lyman in the October 

 number of the Entomologist, and the beautiful plate accompanying it. A series of the 

 moths brought by different members of the Council was examined in connection with 

 this paper. 



Mr. J. Alston Moffat exhibited and distributed among the members specimens of 

 two new species of moths which had been captured by him at Hamilton, and which had 

 been described by Prof. Fernald and Prof. Grote respectively as Proteoteras Mofatiana 

 and Scopelosoma Mofatiana. 



Mr. Fletcher showed specimens of an Halesidota and of its larvae, which had been 

 very abundant and destructive upon the Douglas Fir in British Columbia during the 

 past year. He also distributed a collection of Coleoptera sent from Vancouver Island 

 for this purpose by Rev. G. W. Taylor. 



Mr. W. Hague Harrington read a paper on the "Nuptials of Thalessa," describing 

 the emergence and copulation of these the largest of our Hymenoptera. 



THE NUPTIALS OF THALESSA. 



W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa, read the following paper : — 



For several years I have observed with much interest the oviposition of our large 

 and handsome " long-stings," but not until this summer have I been able to witness their 

 actions preparatory to this duty. Although the males are frequently numerous wnen 

 the females are ovipositing, the sexes pay no attention to one another, and this fact led 

 me frequently to wonder at what time mating occurs. Last year I had, in company 

 with Mr. Fletcher, observed the males in strange positions, with the tip of the abdomen 

 applied to the bark, or inserted in a crevice, and had suggested that they were awaiting 

 the emergence of the female. The supposition was, however, not proven, and the actions 

 observed were still a matter of conjecture, and for further observation. 



On the afternoon of the 7th June last I visited some old maples (Acer saccharinum) 

 for the special purpose of making observations on Oryssus. The trees are in different 

 stages of disease and decay, and are correspondingly infested by such borers as Dicerca 

 divaricata, Tremex columba, Xiphydria albicomis, Oryssus Sayi, etc., while they attract 

 naturally numbers of our larger Pimplidse, such as Thalessa, Xorides, Ephialtes and 

 Xylonomus. Upon these trees during their season could generally be found many speci- 

 mens of Thalessa, but I had never seen one emerge from its prison into the warmth and 

 light of its adult existence. Upon a tree which for years had been much bored by 

 Tremex, etc., I, upon the above date, saw several specimens of T. atrata and T. lunator 

 ovipositing, and at some distance below them a group of males in an evident state of 

 excitement. Three of these had their abdomens inserted more than half way under a 

 flake of bark. Here, I congratulated myself, was an opportunity to ascertain whether 



